NBA Week 2 Rewind: Pistons, Rockets rise, Warriors dominate
By Tom West
Under-the-Radar Players to Watch Next Week
With so many stars, many player can go under the radar each week. So, whether you missed someone who’s stepping up or are looking to make a good trade for your fantasy team, here’s a few notable names from week 2.
C.J. McCollum is making the most of being on a depleted Portland Trail Blazers squad. Without LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, there are more shots available, and McCollum has simply been lighting it up alongside Damian Lillard over the last two weeks. From his three point stroke to his ability to attack the paint and sink his smooth floaters, McCollum is going to be a top pick for the NBA’s Most Improved Player if he comes anywhere close to keeping this up.
After starting all of the Blazers’ seven games, he has more than twice as many starts as last season already. In his 34.3 minutes a night, he’s now averaging 21.6 points on 47.2 percent shooting (41.9 from deep), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Which, even though it’s only two weeks, still looks ridiculous in comparison to the 6.8 points per game he averaged just a year ago.
Reggie Jackson is one of the key reasons why the Pistons have surprised everyone with a 5-1 record over the first two weeks. Next to Drummond’s 20-20 start, he’s been the perfect complimentary piece to provide some energy and scoring flare on the perimeter. He’s had an efficient start with 45.5 percent shooting and an uncharacteristic hot-hand from three point range (also 45.5 percent), which has helped add to his athletic ability to attack the basket.
In Sunday night’s game against the Blazers, Jackson put everything together to lead the Pistons in a remarkable fourth quarter comeback. He suddenly scored 14 straight points and finished with 26 points in the period to earn a career-high 40 for the night. As a result, the Pistons went from being down by 15 at the start of the fourth to winning the game 120-103. Those kinds of turnarounds are rare, and this matchup provided one of the best comebacks of the early season.
What a performance to end Jackson’s fortnight averaging 23.2 points per game as his Pistons leapt out to grab the 3rd seed in the East.
Paul George is a two-time All-Star and has been wholeheartedly welcomed back into the NBA after returning from injury. With that in mind, it seems strange to put him in the “under-the-radar” segment. However, among the thrilling shooting of Curry and the return of Westbrook and Durant together, George hasn’t quite taken the world by storm in his new role at power forward with the Indiana Pacers.
He hasn’t exclusively moved to the four, but spending 51 percent of his minutes there (the other 49 percent at small forward) has seen him spend far more time around the paint than he’s used to. It’s helped him up his rebounding to 9.3 per game, and as he can always be counted on for his speed and shooting at the perimeter, he’s starting to establish himself as a solid combo forward. The blatant area of weakness, though, is his post defense, so that’s where the likes of Jordan Hill and Ian Mahinmi will have to help him out.
Yet, after 36 point, 12 rebound games and a stat line of 23 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game, it’s safe to say Paul George is well and truly back.
Until the review of week 3 next Monday, enjoy everything the NBA has in store for the next seven days. With rival matchups like the Grizzlies and Clippers, there’s plenty to look forward to.